Water Bottles

If you have read my previous blogs, you probably know now that I have done quite a bit of research since my AT thru-hike attempt. Tent, sleeping bag, backpack, food container, meals to name a few. I have researched everything that I will take with me and weighed the pros, cons, benefits, and purposes for that item. I say purposes in plural because I want all to have more than one purpose even toilet paper. This brings me to an item that I believe is looked over – water bottles. I have read a lot of books and watched a lot of videos and water bottles seem to be minimally talked about for gear. Unless you are talking about the different types of bladders. The last post here on The Trek website about water bottles is Mar 12, 2019 by Karl Halvorson.

It’s a must-have!

Water is a must for any thru-hike. Water is plentiful along the AT for the most part. But is also dependent on the weather. There are sections that will require more water to be carried due to distance between sources. Fingers crossed for a blessing from trail angels. Water consumption is also a factor in how much water one will carry. One liter of water weighs 2.2 lbs. and 700 mL weighs 1.5 lbs.

So here is my take on water bottles. They are simple to acquire and easily transported. Most all backpacks have a pocket for a water bottle to be stored. They can be carried in your hand, pack pocket, or shoulder strap. These pockets can accommodate various sizes of bottles also. Water bottles can be found most anywhere. Resupply points, food vendors, and even trail angels.

My learning curve.

So why the blog about a simple water bottle? Well, because I have made a few mistakes with the water bottles that I have carried. To cut weight for shakedown hike on the Three Ridges Trail, I chose to carry two 700 mL bottles, saving me almost 1.5 lbs. I walked south on the AT from the parking area to Harpers Creek shelter, eight miles. This section did not have any water sources until getting to the shelter. It was mid-July, hot, and humid. I wished I had that extra weight and water. My water ran out about two miles from the shelter and about one mile away I could feel some symptoms of dehydration. Thankfully, the remaining trail was downhill. I filtered and drank 1.5 liters of water as soon as I arrived at the shelter and more throughout the night. Probably three liters total before heading back via the Mau-Har Trail the next morning.

Another mistake I have made on other shakedown hikes is losing the cap while filtering the water at the water source. Good thing is that the caps float. Bad thing is having to chase it down the stream in Crocs with sore legs and slippery rocks. And it would go against the Leave No Trace concepts if I was not able to catch it.

Water bottle tops

Water bottle tops. Please excuse me for the edge of the homemade pecan pie in the bottom of pic.

The bottles.

Ok, back on subject of water bottles and not on my errors in judgement. Most of the bottles, not the cap, themselves are the same other than the thickness of the bottle itself. I’m sure you have held a bottle that you wonder how the bottle does not leak because the walls are so thin. Other bottles are so rigid that you regret buying that pretty Nalgene bottle with the unicorn on it. Nothing against the Nalgene bottles, I have a few of them myself. The unicorn one is my granddaughter Lily’s, yea we will go with that. Regardless of the bottle, we all have refilled it at the water cooler while talking about the game, new guy, or boss’s pet. So, for my thru-hike, I want a bottle that is inexpensive and will withstand the abuse, wear, and tear, I put upon it.

The cap.

Now for the cap. Regular, wide, or sport top? Hmmm, why are there so many questions just for a bottle? Oh, I know. Because I research too much. Or is it because I think too much? Each of the tops has its benefit but really, it’s the user’s preference. Sport tops will allow the drinker to drink without having to hold the top in their hands with trekking poles until the hinge breaks. Wide mouth tops can allow you to get lots of water in after a tough climb. Regular tops can allow you to attach your filter directly to the bottle. Another thing to take note of is the threads for the top. Some bottles have half the threads of others. These won’t work if you plan on attaching your filter to the bottle. So, what is your choice? For me, since I am using the Sawyer Squeeze filter, I am going with a regular or sport top bottle. This is because I can attach the filter to the bottle if I lose the bottle top. My plan is to use the Sawyer bags for dirty water and bottles only for filtered water.

Regardless of what you use to carry your water on your hike, be happy and confident with your decision. Just make sure you have enough to make it to the next water source. Hmmm, sounds like a good title for a book. Nah, too much like Where’s the Next Shelter? by Gary Sizer. Good read by the way.

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Comments 10

  • pearwood : Dec 5th

    Plus there will be one wide-mouth Nalgene for use as a nighttime pee bottle. For that I want some thing solid, stable, and secure. ;-D

    Reply
    • Chris : Dec 6th

      Pearwood,
      Hahaha, leave it to the ole Army guy to think of pee bottle for I’m dark thirty nature call. And yes I agree with you. Now where will I put that new bottle in my pack?
      Chris

      Reply
      • Chris : Dec 6th

        O’ dark thirty

        Reply
  • Russ1663 : Dec 6th

    Good article Chris. Im running 2 Nalgenes with OTF caps, GRAYL Geopress w/extra filter and a Lifestraw Flex on a shoulder mount. I kept the original Nalgene caps as a hedge against disaster. I agree totally on the dirty water bags. As to weight; I can tolerate the weight of water as you consume as you go. Best of trail luck to you. Oh yes, I agree with Pearwood. Wouldnt have immediately thought of a Nalgene for that purpose but he is correct.

    Reply
  • Chris : Dec 6th

    Russ1663,
    Thank you. Hope you got the same aha moment as I from Pearwood. Thanks for letting me know what you go with. I have never heard of tops and going to do some more research on those.
    Chris

    Reply
  • Rick : Dec 6th

    You may want to do a bit more research on your dirty water bag choice. The Sawyer bags are flimsy and difficult to fill with a slow running or low water level water source. I use an Evernew bladder type bag; similar design to the Sawyer bags that come with the filter, but sturdier to handle to constant squeezing. Others use CNOC bags. Or even Smart Water bottles, but they take more to squeeze. Research is good. But field practice will give you better feedback.

    Pee bottle? Ahhh… no.

    Reply
    • Chris : Dec 8th

      Rick,
      Yes, I totally agree with you about Sawyer bags. Will use them till breaking and then use a bottle is plan for now. CNOC bags have been looked into. Will look into the Evernew. Thanks for info.
      Chris

      Reply
  • thetentman : Dec 6th

    For each trip I buy 2ea 1 liter carbonated Lime flavored water for each trip and reuse the bottles as needed. If they break, in the next town I get another.

    Reply
    • Chris : Dec 8th

      TheTentMan,
      Not sure about carbonated water, regardless of flavor. Reminds me of my late Grandmother’s tonic water she drank…I thought it was 7-Up. That is my plan too. Bottle breaks..get new one at next town for $1.75. What a deal!
      Chris

      Reply

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